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A Kyoto headliner, the annual Gion Festival is Japan’s most iconic celebration, with a history dating back to the year 869. Held every July for a full month, this grand affair honours Yasaka Shrine with an elaborate line-up of traditional events.
The festival’s crowning moments, however, are the Yamaboko processions on July 17 (Saki Matsuri, or the first procession) and July 24 (Ato Matsuri, or the second procession). On these two days, the streets of central Kyoto come alive with majestic floats, live music and a vibrant atmosphere.
The enormous Yamaboko floats are a major reason why the Gion Festival is so beloved. Some reach up to 25 metres in height and weigh as much as 12 tonnes, yet they are still pulled by hand. Lavishly decorated with tapestries and embroidery, the floats are often referred to as moving art museums. Saki Matsuri is the larger of the two processions, featuring 23 floats compared to 11 in Ato Matsuri.
While the processions are free, public events, those wishing to enjoy the spectacle in comfort can book paid seats at a prime viewing spot.
July 17 procession
The first and grandest procession begins at the Shijo-Karasuma intersection. The paid viewing area on Oike Street offers regular seats starting at ¥6,000.
If you want to listen to a live commentary in English, you’ll have to get the Special Learning Seats. These will set you back ¥14,500 for the front row, or ¥12,500 for the subsequent rows.
At the other end of the scale, premium options are priced at ¥125,000 for a front-row seat without shade, and ¥155,000 for second- and third-row tiered seating with parasols. These premium spots come with perks: drinks (water, tea and juice), live commentary in Japanese and English, and a buffet lunch at Hotel Okura Kyoto’s banquet hall from 12 noon to 2pm.
More importantly, the Special Learning and the Premium seats are strategically positioned at – or at least nearer to – the south-west corner of the Kawaramachi-Oike intersection in the vicinity of Kyoto City Hall. Here you’ll get a prime view of the tsujimawashi, the dramatic 90-degree turns performed by the floats.
For the live commentary, make sure you bring along your smartphone and earphones. All seats come with a tote bag, an official guide book and heat-protection items.
July 24 procession
The second procession begins at the Karasuma-Oike intersection instead, with paid seats again available on Oike Street. A front-row general seat costs ¥8,000; seats on the second row and further back are priced at ¥6,000.
There are no premium options for the July 24 procession. However, only the Special Learning Seats come with English and Japanese live commentary. These will set you back ¥12,500, or ¥14,500 for the front row.
Again, please have your smartphone and earphones ready to access the live commentary.
For more information and to book your seats, visit the Kyoto Tourism website.
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